Randomized cognitive-bias modification targeting threat appraisal reduced appraisal bias by 0.62 SD but depression symptoms by only 0.08 SD at 12 months
[unresolved]
[no evidence]
[quiet]
[stable]
[undecided]
The four-site MEND trial (n=1,204 adults with childhood adversity histories, Aubrey-Nkemelu et al., 2023) delivered 16 sessions of interpretation-bias training. The mechanistic target moved substantially and durably, yet depression outcomes were near-null (BDI-II difference 1.2 points, 95% CI -0.4 to 2.8), with no dose-response relation between bias change and symptom change.
Accurate
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Falsifiable
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Clear
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Novel
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Important
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▸ Score Details
Cited as evidence in 1 claim:
Childhood adversity raises adult depression risk primarily …
(opposes)
cited by (1)
cited as opposes by:
[+0]
Childhood adversity raises adult depression risk primarily through altered threat-appraisal learning rather than inherited liability shared with parents
behavior-genetics
developmental-psychopathology
psychology
virtues: Accurate unrated · Falsifiable unrated · Clear unrated · Novel unrated · Important unrated
this claim:
Randomized cognitive-bias modification targeting threat appraisal reduced appraisal bias by 0.62 SD but depression symptoms by only 0.08 SD at 12 months
supports (0)
no supporting evidence yet
Evidence Supporting (0)
No supporting evidence yet.
Evidence Against (1)
A dose-response analysis of MEND found no symptom benefit even among the top de…
Pre-empts the most common defense of null mechanistic trials — that only some participants engaged the mechanism. If even strong mechanism-movers show no benefit, the mediator looks less causally potent, unless the measured bias is a poor proxy for the developmental construct.
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